Lawn &amp; Garden Price Guides: How Much Does Lawn Care Cost?

$739

Mow and Maintain a Lawn

(25,850 projects)

$142

Repair a Sprinkler System

(20,813 projects)

$231

Remove Leaves

(15,613 projects)

$328

Install Landscaping

(13,249 projects)

$3,287

Install Sod

(5,587 projects)

$1,804

Install a Sprinkler System

(5,097 projects)

$2,439

Winterize or Activate a Sprinkler System

(4,043 projects)

$80

Reslope a Lawn

(2,369 projects)

$1,872

Aerate a Lawn

(1,821 projects)

$123

Fertilize a Lawn

(1,723 projects)

$230

Maintain Trees & Shrubs

(813 projects)

$412

Install Turf

(730 projects)

$4,474

Excavate Land

(610 projects)

$2,918

Seed a Lawn

(578 projects)

$833

Install Landscape Curbing

(556 projects)

$1,153

Some of the services you might need include:

Mowing ($270) - Mowing the lawn is traditionally a DIY project, but it's an easy area to neglect and worth the cost to outsource.
Fertilizing ($350) - Lawn fertilization ensures soil stability and plant health. Use the right fertilizer to avoid any diseases or additional repairs.
Watering - Watering your lawn compensates for lack of rainfall or dry conditions. You can have sprinklers installed to cut down on hand watering.
Aerating ($450) - Aeration allows air, water and nutrients to get to the grassroots. Make sure you do this after winter for new plant growth.
Dethatching - Akin to aeration, dethatching breaks up a layer of soil for nutrient movement. Its the cheaper alternative to yield the same results.
Overseeding ($1,200) - Overseeding keeps the grass growing when older patches die out. Its also a chance to put in drought or disease-resistant grass for harsh climates.

Your cost will increase with square footage so prioritize according to your budget.

How Much Does Lawn Care & Gardening Cost?

Lawn care prices vary if you want the service by the hour, week or month. Some price ranges are $100 to $200 per month so if you want to find a good price, we recommend getting a few estimates.

Gardener prices will vary by the hour, week or month as well. It can be anywhere from $50 to $100, and it also depends on whether you hire an individual or a professional company. There might be a flat fee whether its per project or ongoing care.

Types of Low-Maintenance Plants to Consider

Hiring a gardener to maintain your plants can be expensive, so prolong calling one by planting seeds. Similarly with trees, buy seedlings rather than full-grown varieties. If you want a more conventional route, save money with perennials, plants that come back every year and require less maintenance.

For lawns, Kentucky bluegrass is the most common variety. It turns green quickly, is fairly easy to maintain and good for foot traffic like childrens sports and pets. If you live in an area prone to droughts, you might consider:

Canada bluegrass
Crested wheatgrass
Fine fescue
Perennial wild rye
Tall fescue
Western wheatgrass
Blue grama
Buffalo grass

You might also consider rock garden, butterfly garden and others plant types suited to boxes or pots.

Tips for Hiring a Lawn Care Service or Gardener

Consider how much maintenance your garden needs by the number of plants in your yard and how much work you want to do yourself. Then to find the best gardener, interview three to four and ask about the following:

Qualifications: landscaping, horticulture certifications, licenses, years of experience
References: examples of past clients, images of their past work
Organic sustainability: if and how they take an organic approach to weeds, pests and fertilization
Permeable landscaping: green method of landscape design that they may be knowledgeable in
Time & scope: how long they take & how much they cover in that time
Areas to stay away from: if there are parts of the garden you want to manage yourself

Yard Maintenance Considerations

When you require yard maintenance, figure out all the tasks you need completed. What all will be involved: leaf removal, mowing, aeration, overseeding? Compile a list and have that ready when you call lawn service professionals.

From there, see what services are part of a package versus charged as an extra fee, like trimming or pruning bushes. If you include mowing, ask about height and what will be done with the clippings. Then consider pesticides, insecticides and other chemicals used to protect against diseases and pests. You have the option of organic or natural pesticides, but these might not guarantee an insect-free yard so ask questions. See if the pesticides are allowed in your location and what health risks, if any, might be associated with them.

Additional Yard Features

Your yard is your family's play area, place to entertain visitors and potential dining space. As you're updating the landscape, make room for additional features. An experienced landscape designer can help you with placement and cost planning.

Be aware that some features like trampolines may increase your insurance premiums, and others, such as swimming pools, will not only cost a lot to install but might require enclosures and expensive regular maintenance. Here are some common yard features you might consider installing:

Playsets and houses
Swings
Birdhouses
Patios, walkways, porches, decks
Ponds, water fountains
Lamp posts
Outdoor kitchen